According to the U.S. Justice Department, Macy’s used unfair documentation practices against legal immigrant employees who had proper work authorizations. During an eligibility re-verification process, Macy’s broke immigration law that prohibits employers from discriminating against immigrant employees during re-verification by asking for more or different documents than other employees are required to submit based on a worker’s immigration status or national origin. Some of the affected employees lost seniority, were suspended, or even let go due to the unfair re-verification.

The Justice Department is charging the retailer a hefty fine and requiring that Macy’s set aside $100,000 for any employees who lost seniority or any wages as a result of the unfair eligibility process. Macy’s future eligibility re-verifications will be monitored by the Justice Department for the next two years to avoid further infractions.